Chapter 13.01
UTILITY ACCOUNTING, BILLING AND ADMINISTRATION
Sections:
13.01.010 Budget billing program.
13.01.020 Eligibility requirements.
13.01.030 Method of payment calculation.
13.01.040 Delinquent accounts.
13.01.130 Utility liens – Debt recovery.
13.01.010 Budget billing program.
Residential, single and/or multifamily unit utility customers, desiring to equalize their utility payments through the year, may apply for participation in the budget billing program. Customers may apply for the budget billing program during open enrollment periods designated by the city of Toppenish administrative services division, who shall administer the program. Open enrollment periods shall be bi-annual during the last month of each half of the year (i.e., June 1st through 30th and December 1st through 31st).
The duration of the budget billing program shall be for a period of 12 consecutive months and shall be reconciled at the conclusion of the 12-month period, at which time the customer shall pay any balance due or any overpaid funds shall be credited to the customer’s account.
Budget payment plans may be renewed annually upon application and shall terminate with any transfer of ownership. (Ord. 2022-17 § 2, 2022; Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.020 Eligibility requirements.
In order to qualify for enrollment in the budget billing program, customers must meet the following eligibility requirements:
A. The customer must be a residential, single and/or multifamily unit utility customer;
B. The customer must have a 12-consecutive-month billing history for the subject property;
C. The customer must have a current account at the time of application;
D. The customer must have no more than one late fee on their account, an NSF or chargeback of an online payment, within the immediately preceding 12-month period for any renewal periods only; and
E. The customer must be the owner of the property residing in the residence. (Ord. 2022-17 § 3, 2022; Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.030 Method of payment calculation.
The city shall calculate the customer’s monthly payment at enrollment based on the average of the immediately preceding 12-month period. The customer may request the calculation prior to enrollment for the purposes of determining whether or not to enroll. (Ord. 2022-17 § 4, 2022; Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.040 Delinquent accounts.
In the event that a customer becomes delinquent or in arrears on the accounting utilizing the budget billing program, the program will terminate, and the customer will not be eligible for re-enrollment in the program for a period of 12 months from the date of delinquency. (Ord. 2022-17 § 5, 2022; Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.050 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.060 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.070 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.080 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.090 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.100 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.110 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.120 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.130 Utility liens – Debt recovery.
Utility liens shall be available to the city as a means of recovering delinquent utility charges as specifically permitted and provided by statutes pertaining to each individual utility provided by the city. The city may enforce delinquent utility charges by application of the liens as described and authorized by state law and in this chapter. The city also reserves the right to seek recovery of delinquent accounts through all means permitted under the law, including but not limited to liens, service terminations, shut-offs and submission of past due accounts to collection, as may be deemed appropriate by the finance director and/or as dictated by specific operational guidelines established by the finance department. (Ord. 2019-02 §§ 1, 2, 2019).
13.01.140 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).
13.01.150 Reserved.
(Ord. 2019-02 § 1, 2019).